THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, AND MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. FOR FEBRUARY, 1847. A SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSE, BY MATTHEW HENRY. FROM A MANUSCRIPT. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Allow me to request a | place in your Magazine for a sermon, which, I have no doubt, will interest, as well as edify your numerous readers. It was delivered by Mr. Matthew Henry, at Chester, on Feb. 5, 1709-10; and was one of a set of " Sacramental Discourses," preached by that eminent man, in the ordinary course of his ministry, "upon the Promises." See his Life, October, 1828, Note F. The "set," unhappily, has been long broken and scattered. I have made the transcript from the original, in Mr. Henry's own handwriting, in my possession. The reverend preacher's diary for 1710 contains the following entry: "Feb. 5, Lord's day. Expounded Numb. iii., Rev. i. Preached, John vi. 40, I will raise him.' Some enlargements at the table of the Lord. Praised be my God." The original MSS. I am, very truly, yours, JOHN BICKERTON WILLIAMS. The Hall, Wem, Dec. 9, 1846. FORTIETH PROMISE. John vi. 40-" And I will raise him up at the last day." VOL. XXV. 'Tis hard to say whether this speaks more glory to Christ, or comfort to Christians. I aim at both in the choice of the subject that I may be serviceable to the honour of my Master, and may be a helper of your joy. : How great is Christ who can do this: who has life in himself, and quickeneth whom he will. It is God's prerogative to raise the dead, 2 Cor. i. 9: and this Jesus Christ doth. We are, therefore, sure he has a Divine power and dominion; that he not only lives for evermore, but has the keys of death and the grave. How happy are Christians for whom it shall be done: Christ having undertaken to do it, who is true to his word, and will not fail his people. Christ is here declaring the decree, Psa. ii. 7: the counsels of peace, Zech. vi. 13. See Matt. xi. 27. The covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son we have in ver. 39: the private instruction which Christ received that he should be sure to save all the elect, and lose none of them, John xvii. 6. He had them committed to him as a Trust, as scholars to a Teacher, patients to a Physician, with a charge that F they should all be forthcoming: allude to Gen. xliii. 9. The covenant of grace between God and man we have here. "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." him up." 'Tis worth while to make it sure. It is "all our salvation." 1. All that believe in Christ shall partake of this joyful resurrection. He speaks of this in the 36th verse; of some that saw him, and believed not: but happy those that have not seen, and yet have believed, John xx. 29. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day," ver. 54. By faith in Christ, as justifying, we become entitled to it: by this faith, as it sanctifies, we are fitted for it. By faith we are united to Christ, have fellowship with him: are interested in his resurrection. 1. The revealed will of God: he has appointed a general offer of life and salvation to be made upon gospel terms, that hereby those who were given to Christ might be brought to him-every one that sees the Son, and believes on him. Eternal life may be had. The way of the tree of life which was blocked up is laid open again. We may have, every one of us, a fair throw for heaven; a fair offer is made of it. Our happiness depends not upon chance, but choice-our own choice. Every one may have it, Mark xvi. 15: "He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Rev. xxii, 17: "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." It is to be had upon condition of believing in Jesus Christ: "sees the Son," that is, believes on him. Believing is seeing. 2. The undertaking of Christ: "I will Rom. viii. 10, 11:) that govern themselves raise him up at the last day." Doctrine. Jesus Christ has promised to all believers that he will raise them up at the last day. The general resurrection of the dead is an article of our creed: a main article, John v. 28, 29. The Jews expected it. Jesus and the resurrection went together, Acts xvii. 18: the future state: another life after this. 2. All that are now raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. This is the first resurrection, Rev. xx. 6. Though they were dead in trespasses and sins, they are now quickened: "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, Rom. vi. 5. You are now called to "arise from the dead," Eph. v. 14. If that call be effectual, then the call at the great day will be joyful: raised out of "the dust," Isa. lii. 2. 3. All that live under the conduct and government of the Spirit: that live after the Spirit, and mind spiritual things, (see by the rule of the Scripture, and the new creation. Think not to live with the unjust, and yet rise again with the just. No. Psa. i. 5. We shall not rise with Christ: for we are not risen with Christ, unless we seek the things that are above, Col. iii. 1, 2, 4. All that are pressing forward toward the mark, though weak and weary, and rid but little ground, yet "reaching forth," Phil. iii. 11, 12, 13: that have their eye upon heaven, and are aiming at it: would be perfect in holiness: would be ever with the Lord; and have their eye ever towards him, aiming at his glory, and pleased with his favour. The particular resurrection of believers is an article of the covenant. Compare ver. 39, with the text. A joyful, blessed, resurrection is called the resurrection, Phil. iii. 11. And that is that which the apostle discourseth of, 1 Cor. xv. 'Tis a proper subject for Lord's days, and the Lord's supper. Shew I. Who shall be raised-"raise up." His sufficiency is our great en Shew II. Who it is that promiseth it, Christ has here said "I will raise him couragement to trust to the promise: "Who art thou, Lord?" 1. It is he by whom God at first made the worlds. Not only the great world, but the little world-man! Heb. i. 2. He without whom not anything was made. He, by whom the wonders of the first day were wrought, Gen. i. 2, 3; John i. 3. By him no doubt the wonders of the last day will be wrought. He raised man at first out of the dust, Gen. ii. 7, and breathed life into him, and, therefore, can again. 2. It is he that, as Mediator, has life in himself, and power to quicken whom he will, John v. 21, 26: has all power in heaven and earth. So that both the soul that is gone to heaven, and the body that lies in the earth, are both within his jurisdiction. He came to give life to the world to give it more abundantly, John x. 10. In him is life. All things are delivered to him, Matt. xi. 27. 3. It is he that is charged by the Father to raise them up, and has undertaken it, v. 39. It is for, and in consideration of that, that he is entrusted with his power, and invested in his glory. We may be sure the Father committed the trust to one that was mighty, Psa. lxxxix. 19: to one able to save, Heb. vii. 25. He would not have undertaken it, but that he was both able and willing-and considered the thing. 4. It is he that hath all the angels in heaven at his command to be employed in it. They are made subject to him: that is, to the great design of his mediation, 1 Pet. iii. 22. He speaks much of this, Matt. xiii. 39, 41; Matt xvi. 27; Matt. xxiv. 31. They fly swiftly. The angels attended Christ's sepulchre when he rose; so they will the graves of all the saints. Christ is called in this matter, the Archangel, 1 Thess. iv. 16. 5. It is he that, when he was here upon earth, did raise many to life. These we have an account of. There might be more, Matt. xi. 5. One was raised that had been dead four days. His calling "Lazarus, come forth," was a specimen of the trumpet that shall sound in that day. He spake, and it was done. 6. It is he that was himself raised from the dead. This is the great confirmation of this promise. There is such a necessary connection between the two, that, not only if Christ had not risen we could not rise, Isa. xxvi. 19. But if we do not rise Christ is not risen, 1 Cor. xv. 13—for there had been no occasion for his rising. He rose by his own power: therefore, he can raise us, John x. 18. He would himself rebuild the temple of his body, John ii. 19; and, therefore, sure can raise up the tabernacles of our bodies. In his resurrection he obtained eternal redemption for us. That was the great proof of the acceptance of his satisfaction. In undertaking to raise believers, he did but promise to take out a benefit he himself had purchased. He triumphed over death: abolished it, 2 Tim. i. 10: broke the power of it: altered the property of it: overcame him that had the power of death. He rose as our Head: the first fruits: and he rose on the very day that the first fruits were offered. (See 1 Cor. xv. 20.) He is the first-begotten from the dead, Col. i. 18; Rev. i. 5. We rise in the virtue of his resurrection, 1 Thess. iv. 14; Acts xxvi. 23. Shew III. When this promise is to be performed "at the last day." The Jewish doctors talked of a resurrection at the first appearing of the Messiah, as some now: but Christ tells them it must be at the "last day." 1. There will come a day that will be the last day. As sure as we see this day, we shall see that. The day of our death will be our last day as to this world; but time itself, as it had a first day, shall have a last shall be no more, Rev. x. 6. The sun, the faithful measurer of time, shall be turned into darkness. It will be a great day. 2. Jesus Christ will appear, and be active in that day. It is the day of the Lord. His day that is coming. This agrees with Job's creed, Job xix. 25, &c. Till then the heavens must contain him. "Then cometh the end," 1 Cor. xv. 24. | world, 2 Tim. iv. 10: from falling away. The mystery of God finished. 3. Then believers shall be raised. Till then they must rest, Rev. vi. 11. They must wait. The day is fixed in the counsel of God. The time of it is unknown to us, Dan. xii. 13. But Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of it. It is hastening on. These are the latter days, 1 Tim. iv. 1; 2 Tim. iii. 1—"the last day." What will it be to you? Shew IV. What is included in it. Christ never engaged for believers that they shall not die. He said not so: but they shall not die for ever. They shall not die the second death. Death shall not be death to them. It is unstrung and disarmed. 1. In general it signifies the completing of his undertaking. Therefore this only is mentioned as the crown and perfection of all. He will not have accomplished his whole work till then: and "His work is perfect." He will go through with it. Then, and not till then, death, the last of his enemies, will be conquered and destroyed, 1 Cor. xv. 26, 52. Death has, indeed, no more dominion over him, Rom. vi. 9. But it has dominion under him. Its life is prolonged for a time; but then it shall be quite abolished. Then, and not till then, the bodies of the saints, the last branch of his trust left exposed, shall be gathered up, and all the saints that were given him shall be gathered to him as their great centre. 2. It includes particularly all that is necessary to the completing of the saint's happiness. He that undertakes to do this, undertakes to do all that is necessary in order to it. In promising this to a believer he promiseth, (1.) That he will prepare them for eternal life will make them meet for the glorious resurrection, Luke xx. 36. In promising to bring forth the topstone, he promiseth to lay all the other stones of this building. (2) That he will preserve them to it: will secure them from the assaults of Satan: keep them from this present I will raise them up—above the world, as an earnest and pledge of their being raised up in that day. Christ has undertaken to do all, and it is our unspeakable comfort that our salvation is lodged in his hands, who is "able to save to the uttermost :" who will never lose his hold, nor forsake the work of his own hands. (See John xiv. 3.) He that is the author will be the finisher, Heb. xii. 2. He is the Alpha and the Omega. (3) That he will secure the soul in its separate state. Being by his Spirit prepared for, it shall be, by his angels, carried to, his bosom, Psa. xlix. 15. The souls of believers shall not be lost. They are housed, 2 Cor. v. 1. They are with Christ, Phil. i. 23, "Present with the Lord." It shall be in a state suited to its nature, therefore not asleep or inactive, Rev. xiv. 13; 1 Pet. i. 9. (4.) That he will bring the soul with him at his second coming, 1 Thes. iv. 14; bring it with the angels that shall come with him to grace the solemnity. Not one soul that was committed to him will be missing. It (5.) That he will reunite the body to the soul. This is especially meant. is raising the dead. He will find out the body where it is. The bodies of the saints are under a guard in the grave. That that is dust shall never become the serpent's meat. Though the bones be scattered, bone shall return to bone-though mingled with common dust. Though the dust of saints be mingled with the dust of sinners, they shall be distinguished. He knows how to separate between the precious and the vile. Though worms have destroyed the body-yet, says Job, in my flesh shall I see God, Job xix. 26. The body is a part of the man, and, therefore, a part of the purchase and charge of the Lord Jesus. It pertains to the promises, and, therefore, shall be looked after. He will lose none of his right. (See ver. 39.) He undertakes not only to lose none-no persons--but nothing: no part of the person; but present it entire. |